Hospital seeing more raptors, wild birds

May 25, 2011

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 1:17 p.m.

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Dr. Kristi Krause holds a injured baby Screech Owl at Serrano Animal and Bird Hospital in Lake Forest. The screech owl is one of three babies remaining alive after their nest was cut down in a tree in Orange Park Acres. If the tree triming had been halted for four weeks the babies would not have been orphaned. Two of their siblings were killed in the process. REPORTED BY ERIKA I. RITCHIE, PHOTO KEN STEINHARDT

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Dr. Scott Weldy, 54, has been fascinated with wildlife even before he went to veterinary school at U.C. Davis. "I'm somewhat greedy for knowledge," he said. "I like all animals." Weldy is also the veterinarian of record at four local zoos. REPORTED BY ERIKA I. RITCHIE, PHOTO KEN STEINHARDT

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Dr. Scott Weldy said people should refrain from trimming trees now. They should also put spark arrestors in their chimneys after July to prevent birds from nesting there. RWEPORTED BY ERIKA I. RITCHIE, PHOTO KEN STEINHARDT

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Scott Weldy has rhea eggs incubating at his animal hospital. The rhea is a small, ostrich-like bird. Images of the hatchlings can be seen when the eggs are held up to a light. Eggs generally hatch within 45 days. REPORTED BY ERIKA I. RITCHIE, PHOTO KEN STEINHARDT

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Dr. Kristi Krause works with Dr. Scott Weldy. The two veterinarians rehabilitate birds, which are then taken to Weldy's Orange County Bird of Prey Center in Trabuco Canyon. REPORTED BY ERIKA I. RITCHIE, PHOTO KEN STEINHARDT

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Scott Weldy said that even if birds are brought into him, 50 percent don't make it out because they are so badly injured. He and Kristi Krause save about 80 percent of the remaining birds. Many are then released back into the wild. Information for the center, 949-837-0786. REPORTED BY ERIKA I. RITCHIE, PHOTO KEN STEINHARDT

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All the bird babies at Dr. Scott Weldy's Serrano Animal & Bird Hospital in Lake Forest are getting treated for injuries that were human-inflicted. In the last two months, he and his staff have treated more than 50. REPORTED BY ERIKA I. RITCHIE, PHOTO KEN STEINHARDT

Dr. Kristi Krause holds a injured baby Screech Owl at Serrano Animal and Bird Hospital in Lake Forest. The screech owl is one of three babies remaining alive after their nest was cut down in a tree in Orange Park Acres. If the tree triming had been halted for four weeks the babies would not have been orphaned. Two of their siblings were killed in the process. REPORTED BY ERIKA I. RITCHIE, PHOTO KEN STEINHARDT

LAKE FOREST – For the last few weeks, Dr. Scott Weldy has been flooded with raptor babies.

All the bird babies at Weldy's Serrano Animal & Bird Hospital in Lake Forest are getting treated for injuries that were human-inflicted. In the last two months, he and his staff have treated more than 50. Some have been lucky enough to leave the hospital and are being rehabilitated at Weldy's Orange County Bird of Prey Center in Trabuco Canyon, while others have been released. Yet in the last few weeks, Weldy has seen an increase in orphans and injuries.

Just a week ago, screech owl babies, one with head trauma, another with a broken wing and a third with a fractured leg, were brought to Weldy for treatment after a tree in Orange Park Acres was chopped down. Two other siblings weren't so lucky. One baby's head was severed when a tree trimmer's chainsaw brought down the nest. Another baby had so much trauma, he died after being brought in to the hospital.

In another case, three barn owls were brought in from Mission Viejo after a woman told Weldy they were found inside her chimney. A red-shouldered hawk was brought in after he was found on the ground in O'Neill Regional Park.

"They all have severe injuries making them non-releasable," said Weldy, 54. "They will go to the Bird of Prey Center and then be turned over to educational facilities."

In an interview with the Register, Weldy talks about the dangers of trying to rescue wild animals and gives tips on the best approach to helping them.

Q. Why are people finding so many birds now?

A. In the last four weeks it's been really intense. It's baby season and there are lots of birds in the area. Often times the bird's first flight isn't perfect for the first two weeks and they're found on the ground. People walking with their dogs, hiking and biking are finding them. Many people will see them on the ground but that's normal. If they looked around them they would probably see one or two other birds. If they're on the ground, it's best to leave them there.

Q. Where are the most birds found?

A. The last screech owl came from O'Neill Regional Park. The ranger there should have asked the person exactly where the bird was found so it could have been returned to its parents. If that had been done, I could have also stuck a few of my orphans into the nest. Three barn owls were found after they had been hatched on a chimney flue. Others were cut from a tree in Orange Park Acres.

Q. How can you tell the difference between a raptor and another wild bird?

A. Raptors are birds of prey such as owls, eagles, falcons, condors, hawks, ospreys, kites and vultures. Raptors have strong grasping feet with sharp talons for catching and holding prey. Their hooked upper beak tears and kills prey. They have forward-facing eyes for depth perception to hunt their prey.

Q. If you see a bird on the ground what should you do?

A. If it's an injured animal on the ground, call animal control. Especially if they're not educated to read the situation, they should call an expert. If the animal is in jeopardy of being injured in a high traffic area, use a towel to pick it up and put it in a box. Then get the situation assessed.

Q. Is there a difference to handling raptors and other wild birds.

A. A great horned owl can go straight through a person's arm. I don't recommend picking up any bird of prey, if a person doesn't know what they're doing. The feet are the most dangerous.

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